Multi-ply bag and process for the manufacture thereof



g- 1 967 J. G. LEPISTO ETAL 3,336,845

MULTI-PLY BAG AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF Original Filed March 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 22, W67 J. G. LEPISTO ETAL 3,336,345

MULTI-PLY BAG AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF Original Filed March 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet f3 Aug. 22, 19 67 J. G. LEPRSTO ETAL MULTI-PLY BAG AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF Original Filed March 30, 1965 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 nw W FIG. 5

1937 J. G. LEPISTO ETAL 3,335,345

MULTI-PLY BAG AND PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF Original Filed March 50, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6

United States Patent 3,336,845 MULTLPLY BAG AND PROCEES FOR THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF John G. Lepisto and William J. Tilton, Middletown, Ohio, assignors to Albemarle Paper Company, Richmond, Va, a corporation of Virginia Original appiication Mar. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 443,854, now Patent No. 3,291,374, dated Dec. 13, 1966. Divided and this application Apr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 560,916

2 tCiaims. ((Il. 93-35) This application is a division of US. application Ser. No. 443,854, filed Mar. 30, 1965 and now Patent No. 3,291,374, issued Dec. 13, 1966.

This invention relates to a multi-ply bag and to a process for the manufacture thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to a multi-ply bag having a pocket compartment, which compartment has a window for viewing the pockets contents.

It is often desirable to supply separate printed material (pamphlets giving instructions on use of lawn fertilizer, weed killer, etc.) along with the commodity packaged in a multi-ply bag. Often the separate printed matter is merely placed in the bag and the contents placed on top of the printed material. This causes the printed matter to be damaged or at least diflicult to find when the bag is opened. One solution to the problem is found in the multiply paper bag described in US. Patent 2,867,372, issued to Richard M. Fox on Jan. 6, 1959, for Bag Structure With Pocket. The bag described in the above-noted patent provides a pocket between the plies of the bag, which pocket is accessible through a tear tab to withdraw the printed material from the pocket. However, it has been found that customers often do not notice the legend on the bag referring to the enclosed material, and consequently do not follow the instructions provided by the written material. It is desirable to provide a multi-ply bag with a pocket structure for printed material which will bring the enclosed printed material to the customers attention in order that he will avail himself of the directions contained thereon.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a multi-wall bag having a pocket structure which is provided with a window overlying the pocket.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a process for the manufacture of a multi-ply bag having a pocket compartment with overlying window.

The multi-ply bag of the present invention includes a plurality of concentrically-arranged tubular plies of material. The outer ply of material has a window opening provided adjacent one end. A sheet of transparent material is positioned over the window opening between the outer ply and the next innermost ply. Means are provided for attaching the transparent material to the outer ply. Transversely extending means attach the outer ply to the next innermost ply between the window opening and the end of the bag which is opposite to the adjacent end. The outer ply and the next innermost ply, together with the attaching means, provide a pocket compartment in one end of the bag which is adapted to receive and retain an object that can be viewed through the window opening.

The process of the present invention for forming a multiply bag includes the steps of advancing at least two spaced-apart webs of sheet material, one of which webs is to be formed into the outer ply and the other of which webs is to be formed into the innermost ply of the bag. A window opening is cut in the outer ply web and a transparent sheet of material is attached over the window opening. The outer ply web is then joined to the next innermost ply web along a transversely extending line adjacent to the window opening. The two opposite side 3,336,845 Patented Aug. 22, E967 edges of the outer ply web are joined to each other and the two opposite side edges of the next innermost ply web are also joined to each other to form a plurality of concentrically-arranged tubes. The tubes are then flattened and severed into bag lengths such that the window opening is adjacent to one end of the bag length and between the adjacent end and the transversely extending line joining the outer ply web and the next innermost ply web. One end of the bag length is then closed to form the multi-ply bag.

The foregoing, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following sepcification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational, perspective view of an exemplary multi-ply bag of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, partial, sectional, exploded view of the area adjacent the window in the bag of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational, perspective view of an exemplary multi-ply bag with portions removed;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a portion of the web which forms the outer ply of the multi-ply bag;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view similar to FIGURE 4 showing the arrangement of the transparent window covering on the outer ply web; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic, side elevational view of a bag forming machine adapted for carrying out the process of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 3, the multi-ply bag of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral 10, includes an outer ply 11, intermediate ply l2 and an inner ply 13. However, it is understood that the bag may only contain two plies or any number of plies in addition to the three shown in the drawings. Bags with up to six plies can be readily made on conventional machines. The bag may be formed of any material capable of fabrication into a multi-ply bag, e.g., paper, plastic or other suitable material. As seen more clearly in FIG- URE 3, the plies of the bag are concentrically arranged to form a bag length wherein the plies are afiixed to one another by means of dots of adhesive 14 adjacent one end of the bag. Additional dots of adhesive may be afiixed to the opposite end of the plies, if desired. The various plies of the bag are made from flat webs of material by joining the opposite edges 15 and 16 by means of a line of adhesive 17. The seamed portions of each ply are stepped one from another in a transverse direction in order that the thick seam portions will not overly one another. The bag length is closed on one or both of its ends by means of a length of tape 18, which may be of any suitable material such as paper or plastic, affixed to the ends of the bag by means of a line of thread stitching 19. While the bag is shown with both ends stitched closed, it is understood that normally the bag will be manufactured with only one end stitched closed. After filling, the customer will normally close the other end with a line of stitching and tape.

The outer ply 11 of the bag is provided with a window opening 20 adjacent one end thereof. The window opening may be conveniently formed by die cutting a portion of the outer ply. While the opening shown in the several views is generally oval, it is understood that the opening may be of any desired shape. The window opening 20 is covered by a sheet of transparent material 21. This transparent material may be any suitable: sheet material such as cellophane, polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like. However, if desired, the window may be of a translucent material if it is desired only to show the color of the printed material in the pocket.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the sheet of transparent material 21 is attached to the inner surface of the outer ply 11 by means of spaced dots of adhesive 22 positioned in a line above and below the window opening 20. As seen in both FIGURES 3 and 5, the sheet of transparent material 21 extends the full length of the bag.

The pocket compartment of the bag 23 is provided between the outer ply 11 and the next innermost ply 12 adjacent one end of the bag 10. As seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the compartment 23 is formed by gluing the outer ply 11, the transparent strip 21, and the inner ply 12 together by means of a transversely extending line of adhesive 24 positioned immediately below the window opening 20. While the adhesive 24 that glues the outer and inner ply together is shown in the form of a series of spaced dots, it is understood that a solid line of adhesive may be used, if desired.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the pamphlet of printed material 25 is inserted in pocket compartment 23 through the opening in the outer ply 11 and next innermost ply 12. After the printed material 25 is inserted in the bag, the bag is then closed by means of the tape 18 and a line of thread stitching 19. The pamphlet of printed material may be inserted by either the bag manufacturer or by the bag customer who fills the bags. If it is desired that the material be located in a pocket adjacent the factory sealed end of the bag then the bag manufacturer places the material in the pocket compartment prior to sewing the lower end of the bag closed. However, if desired, the pocket may be located adjacent the normally open end of the bag and the pamphlet of printed material placed in the pocket compartment of the bag prior to filling the bag by the bag customer.

If desired, the plies of the bag beneath the window may be cut through so that the contents of the bag may also be viewed through the window. In this construction the printed material may be printed on a stock which is itself transparent so that it will not block the view of the contents of the bag when it is filled.

Optionally, there may be provided a line of perforations 26 through the outer ply 11 and adjacent sheet of transparent material 21. This line of perforations defines a thumb pull down tab which may be conveniently broken in order to rip the outer ply of the bag to obtain access to the pamphlet of printed material in the pocket compartment 23.

The process aspect of the present invention may be carried out on any conventional tube-forming apparatus adapted to produce multi-ply paper bags. Such tuber machines are well known in the art and do not require detailed description. Referring now to FIGURE 6 the schematic representation of a tuber machine is shown modified to perform the process steps necessary to produce the bag of the present invention. Three rolls of web material such as kraft paper are held by roll stands (not shown). The web forming the outer ply 11 is drawn from roll 27, the intermediate web 12 is drawn from roll 27a, and the innermost ply 13 is drawn from roll 27b. Each of the webs 11, 12 and 13 pass over the dancing rolls 28 and web guides 29. A roll of transparent material 30 supplies the strip of transparent material 21 which passes over a guide roll 31. The outer ply web 11 turns upward over guide roller 32 mounted at the lower end of support member 33 and passes between the window cutting rollers 34 and 34a. Roller 34 has a die cutting head mounted thereon which presses against the surface of mating roller 34a to cut windows at spaced intervals along the length of outer ply web 11. A rotating cross paster 35 applies a pattern of dots of adhesive 22 to the area adjacent the window opening 20, as may be seen more clearly in FIGURE 4. The outer ply 11 and the sheet of transparent material 21 are brought together at the surface of guide roller 36. As seen in FIGURE the dots of adhesive 22 affix the sheet of transparent material 21 firmly to either side of the window opening 20 provided in the outer ply web 11.

At the upper end of support member 33 a rotating cross paster 37 is mounted between rollers 38 and 39 which guide the intermediate ply 12. The cross paster 37 applies the transversely extending line of adhesive dots 14 which join the intermediate ply to the outer ply 13. The use of cross paster 37 is optional since the bag of the present invention may be constructed from concentric tubes which are not joined by any adhesive.

Support member 40 has mounted thereon a thumb notch cutting roller 41 having a die cutting head which engages roller 42 to provide the thumb tab perforations 26 in the outer ply 11 and transparent sheet material 21. This operation is also optional and may be dispensed with if it is not desired to provide the thumb notch perforations in the bag of the present invention.

Support member 43 carries a rotating cross paster 44 which has two heads 44a and 44b. Head 44a applies a transverse line of adhesive in the form of dots 45 to the inner surface of the outer ply web 11, as may be seen more clearly in FIGURE 5. Head 44b applies a short transverse line of dots of adhesive 24 across a portion of the outer ply 11 and the sheet of transparent material 21. The dots of adhesive 24, as may be seen more clearly in FIGURES 2 and 5, provide the means joining the outer ply 11 and intermediate ply 12 together to provide the pocket compartment 23 between these two plies.

The longitudinal pasters 47a, 47b and 470 each apply a line of adhesive (not shown) to one edge portion of the outer ply 11, the intermediate ply 12, and the inner ply 13, respectively.

The three webs with the adhesive applied thereto, pass under a series of guide rollers, designated generally 48, and then contacts the mandrel 4? supported on member 40. The webs are folded around mandrel 49 in the conventional manner into concentrically aligned tubes. Opposite edges of each of the webs are brought together and overlapped to join these edges by means of adhesive 16, as may be seen more clearly in FIGURE 3. The concentrically aligned webs then pass to the flattening rollers 51 and 51a where the tube is flattened and the adhesive seams firmly pressed together. Drive rollers 52 and 52a pull the formed bag tube through the tube forming machine. A conventional cutter mechanism (not shown) is utilized to sever the bag tube into suitable bag lengths. Also, it will be understood that conventional bag sewing machinery (not shown) is utilized to close one or more ends of the bag with the tape 18 and line of thread stitching 19.

Modifications may be made to both the bag and the process of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. While the bag illustrated in the drawings is a gusseted bag, it is understood that the present invention may be utilized to produce a non-gusseted, or fiat tube bag. Further, it is understood that the present invention may be utilized in producing a valved bag, i.e., one having both ends sewn closed at the factory and provided with a folded valve insert in the side of the bag whereby the bag may be filled by the customer. Other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and such modifications and changes may be made without departfrom the essence of the invention. It is intended to cover herein all such modifications and changes as come within the true scope and spirit of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A process for forming a multi-ply bag comprising:

(a) advancing at least two spaced apart webs of sheet material, one of said webs to be formed into the outer ply and the other of said webs to be formed into the next innermost ply of said bag;

(b) cutting a window opening in said outer ply web;

c) attaching a transparent sheet of material over said window opening;

(d) joining said outer ply web to said next innermost ply web along a transversely extending line adjacent said window opening;

(e) joining the two opposite side edges of said outer ply web to each other, and the two opposite side edges of said next innermost ply web to each other to form a plurality of concentrically arranged tubes;

(f) flattening said concentrically arranged tubes;

(g) severing said tubes transversely into bag lengths such that said window opening is adjacent one end of said bag length and between said adjacent end and said transversely extending line joining said outer ply web and said next innermost ply web; and

(h) closing at least one end of said bag length to form said multi-ply bag.

2. A process of forming a multi-ply bag comprising:

(a) advancing at least two spaced apart webs of sheet material for forming the outer and next innermost plies of said bag and a strip of transparent sheet material positioned intermediate said outer and said next innermost ply webs;

(b) cutting a window opening in said outer ply web;

(c) attaching said strip of transparent material to said outer ply web to cover said window opening;

(d) joining said outer ply web and said strip of transparent material to said next innermost ply web along a transversely extending line adjacent said window opening;

(e) joining the two opposite side edges of said outer ply web to each other and the two opposite side edges of said next innermost ply Web to each other to form a plurality of concentrically arranged tubes;

(f) flattening said concentrically arranged tubes;

(g) severing said tubes and said strip of transparent sheet material into bag lengths such that said window opening is adjacent one end of said bag length and between said adjacent end and said transversely extending line joining said outer ply web and said strip of transparent material to said innermost ply web; and

(h) closing at least one end of said bag length to form said multi-ply bag.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,047,745 7/1936 Poppe 229-56 2,511,303 6/1950 Stevens et al 156--108 3,146,685 9/1964 Boone 93-35 XR BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PROCESS FOR FORMING A MULTI-PLY BAG COMPRISING: (A) ADVANCING AT LEAST TWO SPACED APART WEBS OF SHEET MATERIAL, ONE OF SAID WEBS TO FORMED INTO THE OUTER PLY AND THE OTHER OF SAID WEBS TO BE FORMED INTO THE NEXT INNERMOST PLY OF SAID BAG; (B) CUTTING A WINDOW OPENING IN SAID OUTER PLY WEB; (C) ATTACHING A TRANSPARENT SHEET OF MATERIAL OVER SAID WINDOW OPENING; (D) JOINING SAID OUTER PLY WEB TO SAID NEXT INNERMOST PLY WEB ALONG A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING LINE ADJACENT SAID WINDOW OPENING; 